Tag - governments

 
 

GOVERNMENTS

Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 2, 2022
Amid dearth of candidates, Japanese towns adopt system to fund candidates' campaigns
The wider scope of public financing was aimed at making campaigns less costly for candidates and providing equal opportunities for people to run for public office.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 30, 2022
Stop calling everything you disagree with ‘anti-democratic’
Democracy itself is not to blame for every wrongheaded or misguided decision made by a freely elected government.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2019
Over a quarter of municipalities in Japan worry more foreign visitors will mean more problems, survey finds
More than a quarter of Japanese municipalities have expressed concerns about potential problems resulting from an anticipated surge in the number of visitors to the country from overseas, a survey showed Sunday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 19, 2019
Why are Putin and Xi going soft on protest?
The Russian and Chinese regimes are doing something new: not escalating in the face of protest.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 22, 2018
The real meaning of smoothing over Jamal Kashoggi's death
The Kashoggi affair bares the flawed policies of the world's powers.
BUSINESS
May 24, 2018
Japan enlists private-sector firms in campaign to tame ballooning health care costs
Japan's public sector is turning to the private sector to help slow the rapid growth in the nation's health care spending.
EDITORIALS
Jan 9, 2017
Promoting local autonomy
This is the 70th year since the concept of local autonomy was introduced in Japan under the Constitution. Both the national and local governments should be reminded that local autonomy is an important and essential heritage of the postwar political and legal transformation. Serious efforts need to be made to bolster local governments financially and otherwise, and improve the well-being of their residents in the face of population flight and aging.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 16, 2016
Dim outlook for democracy
Democratization movements have experienced setbacks worldwide, and liberal Western democracies are no longer leading lights.
WORLD / Society
Jan 9, 2015
Experts warn governments to plan for climate change migrants
Governments need to plan better for rising migration driven by climate change, experts said on Thursday, citing evidence that extreme weather and natural disasters force far more people from their homes than wars.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 21, 2014
Mayors, governors cast doubt on Abe's dissolution gambit
Mayors and governors questioned Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's dissolution of the House of Representatives on Friday, noting that the move will hamper the government's ability to address other urgent issues, such as the need to prop up regional economies and rebuild disaster-hit areas.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jul 25, 2014
With poll numbers falling, Abe turns to suffering local economies
As his polling numbers dive, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe turns his attention and bluster to the nation's rural economies, vowing to work his 'Abenomics' magic outside Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 25, 2014
Governors tell Abe to get real on fixing economy — outside Tokyo
A long-sought response from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is finally listening to the problems faced by the other Japan — the one outside Tokyo — or a cynical attempt to rally the Liberal Democratic Party before key local elections next April?
EDITORIALS
Jun 4, 2014
Aging public facilities
Aging public facilities present a growing problem for cash-strapped local and prefectural governments.
JAPAN
Jan 26, 2014
Jury still out on Kansai union's worth
A useless talk shop that will ultimately be remembered as a massive waste of taxpayer money, or a farsighted experiment that will someday be seen as the forerunner of a fundamentally new system of central government?
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2013
Regional economic funding to fall 40%
Outlays to bolster regional economies will be slashed by 40 percent in the fiscal 2014 budget even as state spending swells to a record-high ¥95.88 trillion.
EDITORIALS
Jul 15, 2013
'Do-shu' system details missing
As the Upper House election nears, some political parties propose setting up several administrative regions for Japan and abolishing prefectural governments.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 12, 2013
'Abenomics' dark side: hinterland pay cuts
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cuts to local-government subsidies are like trying to "wring water from an old rag that's been squeezed dry," says Kazuya Yoshida, a 27-year municipal employee in Shijonawate, Osaka Prefecture.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores